New program offers free licenses to high school seniors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee high school seniors could soon graduate as licensed real estate agents.  

A six-month to 12-month state program offers high school seniors a chance to earn a free real estate license. 

Cole Vanzandt is a senior at Bradley Central High School and told News 2 when he saw the chance to graduate high school with a free real estate license in hand, he knew he wanted to pursue it. He hopes to work in apartment real estate in the future. 

“People don’t really get a lot of opportunities for things like, you know, what they want to do, what they want to chase whether it be their dreams, or just a career they have always wanted,” Vanzandt said. “I think whatever your thoughts with that, real estate is a great place to start.”

Tennessee Real Estate Commission Chairman Geoffrey Diaz told News 2 that the idea to launch this program started when Gov. Bill Lee pushed to increase the number of job opportunities for Tennesseans. 

“If I had known at 18 that there was an opportunity to become a real estate agent and the income potential and the flexibility and all that kind of stuff [..] yeah, it would have changed my life dramatically,” Diaz said. 

Diaz added that the program started after pitching the idea to over 95 county school districts. When approved, it not only became about graduating seniors, but also about helping economically distressed communities. 

“This might be kind of an exit ramp from poverty into the middle class and beyond,” Diaz said.  

Students complete their online courses in six to 12 months. 

The program includes the Tennessee Affiliate Broker pre-licensing course and the Tennessee New Affiliate course before taking the national and state real estate licensing exams. 

A real estate agent told News 2 the cost of selling houses can pile up quickly with insurance, advertising, broker fees, or joining an association. 

“Just you know, research your brokerages,” Realtor Lauren Tygard advised. “There are brokerages who do cover some of these fees for you.” 

Diaz told News 2 high school seniors will graduate with the ability to complete and close transactions, but for now, he said the program is already seeing applications flood their inboxes. 

To find out more about the program or to apply, click here.